History Recap / Warcraft

Illidan, realizing that he will need to hide from Kil'jaeden's wrath for failing his objective, decides that he will become the ruler of Outland. He chooses to go to war with the current ruler, the Pit Lord, Magtheridon, who rules over the land with an army of Demons and Fel Orcs. With Kael and Vashj at his side, Illidan's army manages to close Magtheridon's Demon Gates along with gaining an ally in Akama and his Broken Draenei after protecting them from the nearby Fel Orcs. Afterwards, Illidan's army assaults Magtheridon's Black Temple to take the leadership away from the Pit Lord. However, Kil'jaeden discovers Illidan's location anyway, which Illidan pleads his case that he was just building up his forces to attack the Lich King again. Upon noticing that Illidan has acquired some valuable allies, Kil'jaeden gives Illidan one last chance to destroy the the Lich King's Frozen Throne.

After the Horde had been beaten back through the portal to Azeroth, Ner'zhul, a powerful Orc warlock, unites the beaten Horde tribes on their original world of Draenor in order to launch a new Azeroth invasion. Despite the destruction of the Dark Portal, the portal connection between Azeroth and Draenor turns out to still be in existence, which allows for Ner'zhul to open a new Dark Portal to Azeroth. Ner'zhul's Horde then charges through the portal to invade Azeroth once more. However, under the guise of being an invasion, Ner'zhul steals several powerful Alliance artifacts, as well as acquiring the Book of Medivh. Ner'zhul then returns to Draenor with the stolen artifacts in order to push forward a much darker end-goal.

As a result of saving the Capital City a momentum is created that allows for the Alliance forces to finally begin to push the Horde back. The Human campaign then plays out where along with removing the Horde from the lands they took, the vengeful Alliance's march also has them destroying the traitorous human nation of Alterac who sided with the Horde. Auduin Lothar ends up being killed during the march, but the Alliance succeeds in pushing the Horde all the way back to the Dark Portal. The Horde officially being defeated with the Alliance arch-mage, Khadgar, destroying the Dark Portal. As a result of his Horde losing, Ogrimm Doomhammer ends up going into exile.

While the game has two interweaving campaigns with alternate endings, the canon ending is found in the Alliance campaign which ends with the defeat of the Horde and the apparent destruction of the Dark Portal, along with the death of Anduin Lothar and the exile of Ogrimm Doomhammer. However certain events of the Orc campaign are also canon such as the destruction of the traitorous human nation of Alterac by a vengeful Alliance, the razing of the cities of Dalaran, Stratholme and Stromgarde, the raiding of Quel'thalas by the Horde in search of the runestones to use for dark magic (as it explains why the High Elves left the Alliance later on as they blame "incompetent" human leadership for the destruction of their lands). The point of divergence is the final Orc campaign mission called the Fall of Lordaeron where the Horde lays TheSiege to Lordaeron's capital city but Gul'dan's [[NiceJobFixingItVillain timely]] betrayal so he could go search for the Tomb of Sargeras weakened the Horde forces allowing TheCavalry to not only save the city but creates a momentum that allows the Alliance forces to push the Horde back all the way to the Dark Portal.

After the Horde had been beaten back through the portal to Azeroth, Ner'zhul, a powerful Orc warlock, unites the beaten Horde tribes on their original world of Draenor to launch a new Azeroth invasion. However, under the guise of being an invasion, Ner'zhul steals several powerful Alliance artifacts, as well as acquiring the Book of Medivh, and returns to Draenor in order to push forward a much darker end-goal.

Under the leadership of Khadgar, the arch-mage gathers an army backed by several of Azeroth's most well-known Alliance heroes to push the invaders back once more. Only this time, Khadgar leads his army through the portal to fight the Horde on their own homeworld of Draenor. Once there however, they discover Ner'zhul's true objective; a plan to open doorways from Draenor to other worlds for the Orcs to conquer. Khadgar's Expedition Force foils the warlock's plot, but the after-effect of his failed portal spell ends up tearing Draenor apart. Ner'zhul, and his remaining followers, escape through one of the few portals he managed to open while what remains of Khadgar's Expedition closes the portal to Azeroth from their side to keep their homeworld safe from the portal storm, and would then go into hiding amongst what was left of the now broken world of Draenor. Afterwards, the Orcs remaining on Azeroth are rounded up and placed in internment camps. The other creatures of the Horde, such as the Ogres, Forest Trolls, and Dragons, go their own ways.

Arriving at Stonetalon Peak, Thrall's Horde is greeted by the arrival of Cairne, and several of his Tauren, who have come to join the Horde as repayment for their earlier assistance. They also manage to protect a group of Wyverns from the nearby harpies, who also join the Horde, and fight their way into the dungeon within Stonetalon Peak. Fighting through the dungeon, Thrall and Cairne eventually reach the location of the Oracle, who reveals himself to be Medivh. Jaina, who was also looking for the Oracle, also arrives, and is told by Medivh that if their world is to survive against the Burning Legion, then [[EnemyMine the Horde and Alliance must band together]]. Thrall is also informed that Grom's Warsong Clan has been corrupted by the Burning Legion, which forces Thrall to take his Horde to the Warsong settlement. With the help of Jaina's Alliance forces, Thrall is able to fight through the Warsong Clan, and bring Grom back to his senses. Afterwards, Thrall and Grom take the fight to Mannoroth, and are able to kill the Pit Lord, though at [[HeroicSacrifice the cost of Grom's life]].

Later on, Medivh arrives at Lordaeron's Capital City. He begs the leaders of Lordaeron to head west in order to prepare for an approaching threat, but is forced out by a disbelieving King Terenas. Meanwhile, Lordaeron's crown prince, Arthas, who serves as a paladin in the Order of the Silver Hand under Uther Lightbringer, is shown protecting the nearby villages from orc raiders of demon-worshiping Blackrock Clan. Afterwards, Medivh is seen at Lordaeron's wizard city of Dalaran trying to convince its leader, Antonidas, to head west. However, Medivh is once again turned down. After Medivh departs, Antonidas remains worried about a growing "plague" that has recently devastated several of Lordaeron's villages, which he sends his young wizard apprentice, Jaina Proudmoore, to investigate.

Later on, Arthas returns home to cheers from the people of Lordaeron for his success in Northrend, and meets with King Terenas in the throne room. Here, Arthas kills his father, which begins the fall of Lordaeron.

At Northrend, Arthas links up with a dwarven expedition led by Muradin Bronzebeard, sent in search of a FamedInStory runeblade called Frostmourne. The two forces team up to fight against Mal'Ganis. However, before long, word arrives from Lordaeron that the king has re-instated Uther and recalled his son's errant expedition; Arthas is "forced" to destroy his own ships to make sure that his troops stay with him. Then he and Muradin set out to find Frostmourne. Muradin reads an inscription on the sword and realizes it's cursed, but Arthas is willing to make a DealWithTheDevil if it will save his people. As the sword is freed, its casing of ice shatters, slaying Muradin, but Arthas leads his army to destroy Mal'Ganis' primary stronghold, and kills Mal'Ganis for good. Despite the victory, it comes at the cost of Arthas having been driven mad due to Frostmourne taking away his soul.

Medivh once more appears to try to convince Arthas to head west, but is shut down again as Arthas only cares about protecting his home. Though a watching Jaina starts to become convinced that Medivh may be right. Once Arthas, Jaina and Uther get to Stratholme, it turns out that its people have all already been infected with the plague. The result is Arthas taking the... [[WellIntentionedExtremist interesting]] step of ordering the entire city to be put to the sword. Uther rejects the wholesale slaughter of civilians, which causes Arthas to strip Uther of his office. This causes Uther to leave, which Jaina leaves as well, not wanting anything to do with the butchery. Mal'Ganis then starts to turn Stratholme's people into undead, which Arthas races against time to keep the Dreadlord from transforming Stratholme into an undead bastion for the Scourge. Despite Arthas' best efforts, Mal'Ganis escapes his grasp. The Dreadlord last informing Arthas that their true battle will be in Azeroth's icy northern continent of Northrend. Arthas immediately gives chase, as a disbelieving Jaina and Uther look on. Medivh arrives once more, and takes the opportunity to convince Jaina to lead an army of Lordaeron survivors to Kalimdor.

Jaina eventually arrives on the scene to travel with Arthas as they investigate the plagued Lordaeron villages, which they turn out to be overrun by the undead of the Scourge. Despite WorkingWithTheEx, they are able to accomplish their mission after discovering and killing the leader behind the plague, Kel'Thuzad, at the city of Andorhal. Before his death however, Kel'Thuzad warns that the true leader behind the Scourge is the dreadlord, Mal'Ganis. As a result, Arthas and Jaina travel to Stratholme in order to kill Mal'Ganis. During the journey to Stratholme, Arthas and Jaina arrive at the village of Hearthglen that's about to be attacked by a large force of undead. Arthas is left to defend the village alone while Jaina teleports away to call for reinforcements. Seeing that Hearthglen received an infected grain shipment from Andorhal that starts turning the townsfolk into zombies, it's here that Arthas discovers that the plague turns people into undead. Arthas struggles to hold out until Uther and Jaina arrive in time to turn the tide against the undead. However, it's made clear at this point that Arthas is growing frustrated with his inability to save his people.

Jaina eventually arrives on the scene to travel with Arthas as they investigate the plagued Lordaeron villages. Despite WorkingWithTheEx, they are able to accomplish their mission after discovering and killing the leader behind the plague, Kel'Thuzad, at the city of Andorhal. Before his death however, Kel'Thuzad warns that the true leader behind the Scourge is the dreadlord, Mal'Ganis. As a result, Arthas and Jaina travel to Stratholme in order to kill Mal'Ganis. During the journey to Stratholme, Arthas and Jaina arrive at the village of Hearthglen that's about to be attacked by a large force of undead. Arthas is left to defend the village alone while Jaina teleports away to call for reinforcements. Arthas struggles to hold out until Uther and Jaina arrive in time to turn the tide against the undead. However, it's made clear at this point that Arthas is growing frustrated with his inability to save his people. Medivh once more appears to try to convince Arthas to head west, but is shut down again as Arthas only cares about protecting his home. Though a watching Jaina starts to become convinced that Medivh may be right.

Once Arthas, Jaina and Uther get to Stratholme, it turns out that its people have all already been infected with the plague. The result is Arthas taking the... [[WellIntentionedExtremist interesting]] step of ordering the entire city to be put to the sword. Uther rejects the wholesale slaughter of civilians, which causes Arthas to strip Uther of his office. This causes Uther to leave, which Jaina leaves as well, not wanting anything to do with the butchery. Mal'Ganis then starts to turn Stratholme's people into undead, which Arthas races against time to keep the Dreadlord from transforming Stratholme into an undead bastion for the Scourge. Despite Arthas' best efforts, Mal'Ganis escapes his grasp. The Dreadlord last informing Arthas that their true battle will be in Azeroth's icy northern continent of Northrend. Arthas immediately gives chase, as a disbelieving Jaina and Uther look on. Medivh arrives once more, and takes the opportunity to convince Jaina to lead an army of Lordaeron survivors to Kalimdor.